Ant poison distributing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ant poison distributer adapted to be mounted on a grass clipping machine over the rotating blade of the machine so as to drop ant poison granules onto the blade for distribution. The distributor has a hopper with an agitator therein and a series of apertured plates defining a metering passage, with the discharge aperture of the lowermost plate offset relative to the registering apertures of the other plates. A reciprocating push bar moves the granules forwardly in the metering passage toward the offset aperture in the lowermost plate while closing off the supply, allowing the granules to drop through onto the rotating clipper blade. One of the metering plates has apertures of different sizes and this plate can be adjusted to move a selected aperture into registry with the other apertures so as to provide a desired discharge volume of granules.

United States Patent [191 Maxie Jan. 1,1974

[ ANT POISON DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Lee Maxie, R.F. D.Box 200,

Rayville, La. 71269 [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 301,312

[52] US. Cl. 222/244, 222/561 [51] Int. Cl. G01f 11/14 [58] Field ofSearch 222/177, 176, 559, 222/561, 243, 244,245,545; 111/36, 38, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 504,848 9/1893 Palmer222/243 X 1,330,365 2/1920 Alexander...

39.5,l53 12/1888 Leamon 222/l77 Primary ExaminerStanley H. TollbergAssistant Examiner-James M. Slattery Att0rney-Hyman Berman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An ant poison distributer adapted to be mounted on a grassclipping machine over the rotating blade of the machine so as to dropant poison granules onto the blade for distribution. The distributor hasa hopper with an agitator ,therein and a series of apertured platesdefining a metering passage, with the discharge aperture of thelowermost plate offset relative to the registering apertures of theother plates. A reciprocating push bar moves the granules forwardly inthe metering passage toward the offset aperture in the lower l mostplate while closing off the supply, allowing the granules to dropthrough onto the rotating clipper blade. One of the metering plates. hasapertures of dif ferent sizes and this plate can be adjusted to move aselected aperture into registry with the other apertures so as toprovide a desired discharge volume of granules.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ANT POISON DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Thisinvention relates to insecticide dispensing and distributing devices,and more particularly to a device for dispensing and spreading fire antbait or poison of the granule type.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved devicefor dispensing and distributing granular ant bait or poison, the devicebeing adapted to be mounted on a rotary-type pasture clipper or mower,being relatively simple in construction,- being reliable in operation,and providing efficient distribution of the granular material withoutdamage to the granules.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ant poisondistributor adapted to be mounted on a conventional grass clippingmachine over the rotating blade of the machine so as to drop ant poisongranules onto the blade for distribution, the device being inexpensiveto fabricate, being rugged in construction, being adjustable to providea desired discharge volume of granules, and providing smooth andeconomical distribution of the poison granules.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a grass clipping machine having an improvedant poison distributor according to the present invention mountedthereon.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical crosssectional view takensubstantially on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view takensubstantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

.FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially online 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of thegranule metering assembly employed in the ant poison distributing deviceof FIGS. 1 through 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view takenthrough the metering plate assembly of the ant poison distributingdevicewith the push rod in retracted position allowing a metered quantityofant poison granules to descend into the metering chamber of theassembly,

FIG. 8.is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the pushrod in extended position wherein the metered quantity of granules ispushed to the discharge aperture of the assembly so as to cause thegranules to drop through the final discharge opening.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates a conventionalpasture clipper mower of the rotary blade type adapted to be attached toa conventional tractor, for example, by hitch bars 12 and adapted to bedriven from the power take-off shaft of the tractor, for example, bymeans of a telescopic drive shaft 13 connected to the grass clippermechanism by means of a universal joint 14. The rotary blade 15 of theclipper 11 is thus driven by the shaft 13 through the universal joint 14and through a gear box 16 having the input shaft 17. The clipperassembly 11 is provided with the housing 18 which overlies and coversthe rotary blades 15.

Mounted on the top wall of the housing .18 and spaced laterally from thegear box 16 are a pair of spaced parallel upstanding transverselyextending margins of said bracket plates by means of respective rigidstrap members 21 and 22 is an upstanding hopper 23 provided with aremovable top cover 24. Hopper 23 is provided with a downwardlyconvergent bottom discharge portion 25. Hopper 23 may be of any suitableshape, for example, may be of rectangular crosssectional shape asillustrated in the drawings.

Journalled in the upper inner corner portions of the upstanding bracketplates 19 and 20 is a longitudinally extending shaft 26 provided with arelatively large pulley 27 secured on its forward end portion, as by aset screw 28 threadedly engaged through the hub portion of the pulleyand clampingly engaging shaft 26, as shown in FIG. 4. Pulley 27 isaligned with a smaller pulley 29 secured on the mower input shaftelement 17, and the large pulley 27 is drivingly coupled to the smallerpulley 29 by a conventional V-belt 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end portion of shaft 26 is journalled in asuitable bearing assembly 31 provided at the upper inner corner portionof the bracket plate 19 and the forward portion of the shaft 26 isjournalled in a bearing bushing 32 provided at the upper inner cornerportion of the bracket plate 20. A stop collar 33 is secured on shaft 26adjacent to an inner bearing washer 34 at the inside surface of platemember 20, as by set screws 35, to limit endwise movement of shaft 26.

Secured on the intermediate portion of shaft 26, as by set screws 36, isa multi-segmlent hub member 37, one of whose segments is integrallyformed with a polygonal cam 38 which, for example, may be octagonallyshaped as shown in FIG. 5. Engaging against cam 38 is an upstanding arm39 which is pivotally mounted on a longitudinally extending supportingshaft 40 rigidly secured between the lower portions of the bracketplates 19 and 20. Arm 39 is of tubular shape and is cut away at its topportion, as shown at 41, to define a semicylindrical seat which receivesthe rounded left-end portion 42 of a horizontal agitator rod 43 slidablymounted in a horizontal sleeve 44 formed integrally with the lower endof the discharge portion 25 of hopper 23, as shown in FIG. 5. Agitatorrod 43 extends into hopper portion 25 and has a transversely extendingbolt 45 secured thereon to act as a granule-agitating element.Atransverse abutment pin 46 is secured in the left-end portion of rod43, as viewed in FIG. 5, adjacent the rounded end 42 thereof againstwhich is engaged a washer 47 which acts as an abutment for the left-endportion ofa coil spring 48 surrounding rod 43 and bearing between washer47 and the outer end portion of sleeve 44, biasing rod 43 leftwardly, asviewed in FIG.

5, namely, biasing the rounded end portion 42 thereof toward the seatdefined by the cut-away portion 41 of arm 39.

As will be apparent from FIG. 5., rotation of the shaft 26 causes thecam 38 to oscillate the arm 39 and to thereby reciprocate the agitatorrod 43, causing the agitating element 45 thereof to agitate the granularmaterial in the lower portion 25 of hopper 23 and to maintain thematerial free for downward flow.

Secured between the bracket plates 19 and 20 immediately below thebottom of hopper discharge portion 25 is a series of horizontalrectangular plates superimposed on one another, said plates being shownin detail in FIG. 6. The uppermost plate shown at 49 is provided at itscentral portion with a rectangular aperture 50 of ture 55 and adiamond-shape aperture 56, either of which can be moved into registrywith the aperture 52 by adjusting the position of the plate 54. Theaperture 55 and 56 have different areas so as to provide two differentrates of flow granules therethrough. Corresponding apertures 57 and 58are provided in the elongated adjustable plate member54 at the outer endportion thereof to serve as markers to indicate which of the apertures55 and 56 is in operating position. A clamping screw 59 is provided onthe top plate 49, said screw 59 registering with an aperture 60 providedin the subjacent plate 51 so that the screw 59 may be employed to applyclamping force on the tongue member 54 so as to lock said tongue memberin an adjusted position.

lmmediately subjacent the plates 53, 53 is another horizontalrectangular plate 61 having a central circular aperture 62 registeringwith the aperture 52 of plate 51. Aperture 62 is of the same size asaperture 52, namely, may be approximately one-half inch in diameter.

Secured immediately subjacent the plate 61 is another horizontalrectangular plate 63 formed with a rectangular notch 64 adapted toslidably receive a horizontally reciprocable pusher bar 65 which isslidably supported on the next subjacent plate, shown at 66. As shown inFIG. 7, the inner end portion of the notch 64 extends beyond theaperture 62 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 7, and terminates over arectangular aperture 67 provided in the lowermost plate 66 and which istherefore offset from the aperture 50 in the top plate 49 by a distancesuch as to provide a metering chamber in the inner end portion of notch64, as will be presently described.

Secured to the lowermost plate 66 in registry with the aperture 67 is adownwardly convergent, generally con- ,ical discharge spout member 68whose lower end extends into an aperture '69 provided in the top wall ofthe housing 18 and located above the path of movement of the rotaryblades 15, so that material dropping through the spout member 68 willfall on the blades and will be spread by said blades.

The offset bottom aperture 67 of plate 66 may be of suitable size, forexample, approximately one-quarter inch wide and one and three-quarterinches long, which is of a size suitable for feeding out the granuleswhich have been pushed to it by the pusher bar 65, as will be presentlydescribed.

The plate members 49, 51, 53, 53, 61, 63 and 66 may be secured betweenthe upstanding bracket plates 19 and in any suitable manner. Forexample, the bottom plate 66 may be provided with attachment flanges 70,70 adapted to be secured to the bracket plates 19 and 20, and thevarious plates may be provided at their corners with registeringapertures 71 through which bolts 72 may be engaged to secure the platesin superimposed relationship.

The pusher bar 65 is provided at its outer end with aligned hingesleeves 73, 73 receiving therebetween the apertured end of the arm 74 ofan eccentric ring 75, a wrist pin 76 being engaged through the sleeves73, 73 and the aperture 77 of arm 74. Ring surrounds and is driven by aneccentric disc 78 secured between the opposite segments of hub 37, as bytransverse drive pins 79, providing a driving connection between shaft26 and eccentric disc 78. Thus, rotation of shaft 26 causes the pusherbar 65 to reciprocate between the position thereof shown in FIG. 7,which is the intake position for the metering space above-mentioned, andthe discharge position shown in FIG. 8, wherein the granules depositedin the metering space are pushed toward the discharge aperture 67, whileclosing off the delivery apertures.

In operation, the granules flowing from the bottom end of the lowerdischarge hopper portion 25 pass through aperture 50, aperture 52, aselected one of the apertures 55 or 56, and the aperture 62 into themetering space at the inner end portion of notch 64 when the pusher bar65 is in its retracted position, shown in FIG. 7. Thus, a definiteamount of granules are admitted into the metering space, and thisdefinite amount of material is pushed rightwardly, as viewed in FIG. 7,toward the exit aperture 67 and is discharged therethrough, while theadmission apertures are closed off. Thus, the discharge of the granulesinto the spout 68 takes place at the end of the extension stroke of thepush bar 65. Thereafter, the bar 65 is retracted to return to theposition thereof shown in FIG. 7, allowing another metered quantity ofgranules to descend into the metering space, to thereafter repeat theforegoing process. With each stroke of the push bar 65, a meteredquantity of granules is pushed through the aperture 67 into the spoutmember 68 and is guided thereby downwardly through the aperture 69 ontothe rotating blades 15, whereby the granules are spread by said bladesand are uniformly distributed thereby over the ground as the grassclipping machine 11 is moved by its associated tractor over theground.

As above-mentioned, the adjustable flow-regulating metering bar 54 isprovided with the setting-indicating apertures 57 and 58 to indicatewhich of the flow passage apertures 55 or 56 is located in registry withthe apertures 52 and 62 of plates 51 and 61. Thus, the apertures 57 and58 are so located that when one of these apertures is just visiblebeyond the side edge 80 of the top plate 49, the correspondingly shapedaperture 55 or 56 will be in proper registry with the apertures 52 and62 upwardly and downwardly adjacent thereto. For example, FIGS. 4 and 5show the diamond-shaped aperture 58 as being just visible beyond theside edge 80, which automatically places the diamond-shaped aperture 56in registry with the stationary apertures 52 and 62. Since thelongitudinal spacing between the apertures 57 and 58 is the same asbetween the apertures 55 and 56, when the circular aperture 57 is justvisible beyond edge 80, the circular aperture 55 will be placed inregistry with apertures 52 and 62, providing a smaller flow rate ofgranules. As above-mentioned, the adjustable tongue-like plate member 54is clamped in adjusted position by means of the clamping screw 59.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the granularmaterial from hopper 23 is dispensed at a regulated rate and that thegranules pass through the feed apertures into the metering space at theinner end of the notch 50 and are thereafter pushed sufficiently to dropthrough the exit aperture 67 into the spout 68 in a manner which avoidscrushing or grinding the granules.

It will be further apparent that the ant poisondispensing and spreadingdevice above described can be used simultaneously with the regularclipping action performed by the main grass clipping machine 11, therebyproviding the user with a substantial time and money-saving advantage,since it allows the operator to spread the ant bait at the same time ashe performs the regular grass clipping operation.

While a specific embodiment of an improved ant poison distributingapparatus has been disclosed in.the foregoing description, it will beunderstood that various modifications within the spirit of the inventionmay occur in those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that nolimitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ant poison distributing apparatus comprising a support, a hoppermounted on said support and having a downwardly extending bottom outletportion, a rotary driving shaft mounted adjacent said hopper, means onsaid support mounted below said outlet portion and defining ahorizontally extending metering chamber having a top inlet aperturecommunicating with said hopper outlet portion and having a bottom outletaperture offset a substantial horizontal distance from said inletaperture, a push bar slidably mounted in said metering chamber inalignment with said inlet and outlet apertures, crank means drivinglyconnecting said rotary driving shaft to said push bar in a manner torecip' rocate said push bar so that the inner end of the push bartravels substantially between said inlet and outlet apertures, ahorizontal reciprocating agitator bar slidably mounted in the wall ofsaid hopper outlet portion, and a means drivingly coupling said rotarydriving shaft to said agitator bar, said last-named driving meansincluding a non-circular cam on the rotary driving shaft, a leverpivoted to said support and engaging the periphery of said cam, saidlever having a channeled outwardly facing seat at its free end, theouter end of said agitator bar being receivable in said seat, and springmeans biasing the'agitator bar toward engagement in said seat.

2. An ant poison distributing apparatus comprising a support, a hoppermounted on said support and having a downwardly extending bottom outletportion, a rotary driving shaft mounted adjacent said hopper, means onsaid support mounted below said outlet portion and defining ahorizontally extending metering chamber having a top inlet aperturecommunicating with said hopper outlet portion and having a bottom outletaperture offset a substantial horizontal distance from said inletaperture, a push bar slidably mounted in said metering chamber inalignment with said inlet and outlet apertures, crank means drivinglyconnecting said rotary driving shaft to said push bar in a manner toreciprocate said push bar so that the inner end of the push bar travelssubstantially between said inlet and outlet apertures, a flow rateadjusting bar slidably mounted horizontally in said meterchamber-defining means beneath said inlet aperture and having at leasttwo flow apertures of different sizes selectively registrable with saidinlet aperture, and means to clamp said rate adjusting bar in a selectedposition relative to said inlet aperture, said metering chamber-definingmeans including a top horizontal first flow plate containing the inletaperture, a second horizontal flow plate subjacent the first plate andhaving an aperture registering with said inlet aperture, a pair ofhorizontal coplanar spacer plates subjacent said second flow platebetween which said flow rate adjusting bar is slidably received, a thirdhorizontal flow plate subjacent said spacer plates and having anaperture in registry with said inlet aperture, a fourth horizontal flowplate having a notchslidably receiving said push bar, the inner endportion of said notch communicating with the flow aperture of saidfourth flow plate and extending horizontally said substantial distancebeyond said last-named flow aperture, a fifth horizontal flow platecontaining said outlet aperture and communicating with the extreme innerend of said notch, and means rigidly securing said horizontal plates tosaid support.

3. The distributing apparatus of claim 2, and a downwardly taperingdepending discharge conduit secured to said metering chamber below andin communication with said bottom outlet aperture.

4. The distributing apparatus of claim 2, and wherein said clampingmeans comprises a clamping screw threadedly engaged with said tophorizontal first plate and being clampingly engagable with said flowrate adjusting bar.

5. The distributing apparatus of claim 4, and wherein said flow rateadjustable bar is provided with externally exposed indicating means toindicate the position of adjustment of the flow rate adjusting bar.

6. The distributing apparatus of claim 5, and wherein the flow aperturesof the flow rate adjusting bar are of different shapes and wherein saidindicating means comprises indicating additional apertures formed in theadjusting bar and respectively corresponding in shape to the flowapertures of the adjusting bar.

1. An ant poison distributing apparatus comprising a support, a hopper mounted on said support and having a downwardly extending bottom outlet portion, a rotary driving shaft mounted adjacent said hopper, means on said support mounted below said outlet portion and defining a horizontally extending metering chamber having a top inlet aperture communicating with said hopper outlet portion and having a bottom outlet aperture offset a substantial horizontal distance from said inlet aperture, a push bar slidably mounted in said metering chamber in alignment with said inlet and outlet apertures, crank means drivingly connecting said rotary driving shaft to said push bar in a manner to reciprocate said push bar so that the inner end of the push bar travels substantially between said inlet and outlet apertures, a horizontal reciprocating agitator bar slidably mounted in the wall of said hopper outlet portion, and a means drivingly coupling said rotary driving shaft to said agitator bar, said last-named driving means including a non-circular cam on the rotary driving shaft, a lever pivoted to said support and engaging the periphery of said cam, said lever having a channeled outwardly facing seat at its free end, the outer end of said agitator bar being receivable in said seat, and spring means biasing the agitator bar toward engagement in said seat.
 2. An ant poison distributing apparatus comprising a support, a hopper mounted on said support and having a downwardly extending bottom outlet portion, a rotary driving shaft mounted adjacent said hopper, means on said support mounted below said outlet portion and defining a horizontally extending metering chamber having a top inlet aperture communicating with said hopper outlet portion and having a bottom outlet aperture offset a substantial horizontal distance from said inlet aperture, a push bar slidably mounted in said metering chamber in alignment with said inlet and outlet apertures, crank means drivingly connecting said rotary driving shaft to said push bar in a manner to reciprocate said push bar so that the inner end of the push bar travels substantially between said inlet and outlet apertures, a flow rate adjusting bar slidably mounted horizontally in said meter chamber-defining means beneath said inlet aperture and having at least two flow apertures of different sizes selectively registrable with said inlet aperture, and means to clamp said rate adjusting bar in a selected position relative to said inlet aperture, said metering chamber-defining means including a top horizontal first flow plate containing the inlet aperture, a second horizontal flow plate subjacent the first plate and having an aperture registering with said inlet aperture, a pair of horizontal coplanar spacer plates subjacent said second flow plate between which said flow rate adjusting bar is slidably received, a third horizontal flow plate subjacent said spacer plates and having an aperture in registry with said inlet aperture, a fourth horizontal flow plate having a notch slidably receiving said push bar, the inner end portion of said notch communicating with the flow aperture of said fourth flow plate and extending horizontally said substantial distance beyond said last-named flow aperture, a fifth horizontal flow plate containing said outlet aperture and communicating with the extreme inner end of said notch, and means rigidly securing said horizontal plates to said support.
 3. The distributing apparatus of claim 2, and a downwardly tapering depending discharge conduit secured to said metering chamber below and in communication with said bottom outlet aperture.
 4. The distributing apparatus of claim 2, and wherein said clamping means comprises a clamping screw threadedly engaged with said top horizontal first plate and being clampingly engagable with said flow rate adjusting bar.
 5. The distributing apparatus of claim 4, and wherein said flow rate adjustable bar is provided with externally exposed indicating means to indicate the position oF adjustment of the flow rate adjusting bar.
 6. The distributing apparatus of claim 5, and wherein the flow apertures of the flow rate adjusting bar are of different shapes and wherein said indicating means comprises indicating additional apertures formed in the adjusting bar and respectively corresponding in shape to the flow apertures of the adjusting bar. 